SALE OF A MISER’S FURNITURE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1156, 25 March 1884, Page 3

SALE OF A MISER’S FURNITURE.

The whole of the household effects, including the ‘ rare old china,’ according to the catalogue, of Miss Woodbridge, who lived by herself in a humble way at Shirley, near Birmingham, and who died a few weeks ago, at the age of 83 years, leaving £llOO in local banks, several houses at West Bromwich, a farm worth £2OOO at Worley and other property, were recently sold by auction. For tl 3 past 20 years the woman has lived in the most miserly manner, confining herself to the barest necessities of life, whilst whenever she went out she would take with her a basket containing some china which she thought was very valuable, and which she was afraid would be stolen if she left it at home. The whole contents of the deceased’s bedroom, including old rickety bedsteads, fetched only 3s 3d, and would have realised only 2s had not the auctioneer stated that the will of the deceased and some title deeds, supposed to_ be hidden among the furniture, were missing, and a reward of £2O would be paid for the recovery of the documents. The other two bedrooms contained filthy furniture and rubbish. The contents of the first were knocked down for 2s, and the latter for half tlmt amount, the buyers in each case speculating on the chance of finding tho lost documents. The ‘ rare old china’ realised but half a crown, and for the same sum went an old broken down piano, made in 1780. The remaining rubbish in the house reached similar low prices, the total realising but a few pounds. Two bonnets which deceased used to wear wore found to have been made solely of post-cards all addressed to herself, stitched together two or_ three deep. Numerous collectors of china and brokers went from Birmingham to the sale, attracted by the advertisement ‘ rare old china,’ and were greatly disappointed on finding the wretched nature of the lots. The wealthy miser would never drihk water from fhe village wells, believing her enemies were anxious to poison her for her money, She consequently visited Birmingham, a distance of six miles, and filled several bottles at the fountain by Nelson’s monument, taking with her ‘ old china.’